Adjustable mounting for automobile-starting motors and generators



G. E. STEVENS.

ADJUSTABLE MOUNTING FOR AUTOMOBILE STARTING MOTORS AND GENERATORS.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 4, I917.

1,35 7,741 Patented Nov. 2, 1920* IO l6 8 Fig. I 9 r ii-fim 55- L IZ' 34l I I2 :52 26" :1 '5 :\4 2| 7 2i I I I Fq \Fq fi LII If w w w Inventor,Geore E. Stevens,

"Hisalttor-ney.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFF-ICE.

GEORGE E. STEVENS, 0F LYNN, MASSACHUSETTE ASSIGNOR TO GENERAL ELECTRICCOMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

ADJUSTABLE MOUNTING FOR AUTOMOBILE-STARTING MOTORS AN'D GENERATORS.

Application filed-October 4, 1917.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, GEORGE E. STEVENS, acitizen of the United States, residin at Lynn, in the county of Essex,State of assachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Adjustable Mount ings for Automobile-Starting Motors and Generators,of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to starting and lighting sets forautomobiles and particularly to those intended for Ford machines.

In providing a starting and lighting set which is to be applied to a caralready built, one of the problems met with is to provide a suitablemounting adjacent the engine for the motor or generator. One of thefirst requirements is that it be of such a character that it can beeasily and quickly installed and adjusted by the average garage employeeand without material modification of any of the existing parts of theautomobile.

Another requirement is that the mounting or bracket for the motor orgenerator, not being an integral part of the engine frame, be sodesigned and constructed that when attached to the engine frame, itshall afi'ord very rigid support to the motor or generator and resist tothe maximum degree all forces which may tend to spring or bend it, andthereby disturb the alinement of the shaft of the motor or generatorwhich it supports, with respect to the shaft of the engine on which itis mounted, the two shafts respectively being connected together bygearing or equivalent means. In some types of brackets or mountingsheretofore used, the point of support of the motor or generator on thebracket or mounting, and the point or points of support of the bracketon the engine frame have been so fixed by the design of the mounting,that the forces applied through gearing or its equivalent, between theengine shaft and the generator or between the motor and the engine shafthave had a strong tendency to force the respective shafts out ofalinement with each other, and thereby seriously interfere with theproper functioning of the connecting gearing or its equivalent,resulting in undue noise, losses of power, and excessive wear.

In the bracket or mounting herein described, an especial feature of theimprove Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 2, 1920.

Serial No. 184,779.

shafts in correct alinement with the obvious attendant advantages.

A further requirement is that the mounting or support be composed of afew simple parts of a rugged nature so arranged that neither 1t nor themotor or generator mounted thereon will interfere with theacccessib1l1ty of the engine parts, and that the initial cost ofmanufacturing be as low as possible. And a still further requirement isthat it interfere with the circulation of air from the fan over theengine, and with the radiation of heatfrom the engine as little asppssible, so as not to affect materially the cooling of the engine.

The object of my invention is to provide an 1mproved bracket support ormounting which will to a high degree fulfil the requirements abovespecified, and for a consideration of what I believe to be novel and myinvention, attention is directed to the accompanying specification andthe claims appended thereto.

0 In the drawing, Figure 1 is a side elevatron of the front part of anautomobile fitted wlth my improved apparatus; Fig. 2 is a front Viewthereof, the radiator being removed; Fig. 3 is a top plan view of thebracket, and Fig. 4 is a section taken on the line 4-4, Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawing, 5 indicates an internal combustion enginewhich is suitably mounted on the chassis of an automobile, and 6 a crankcasing which is secured to a flange on the engine base by bolts 7. 8indicates a conduit formed in the head of the engine through whichcooling water flows from the cylinder jackets to the radiator 9. Itterminates in a flange 10 and in the standard Ford cars has a shortflanged pipe section bolted thereto which is connected by a piece ofhose 11 to a pipe 12 leading to the radiator. 12 indicates the pipewhich forms the other connection between the radiator and the cylinderjackets. It is shown broken away to more clearly illustrate the partsbehind it.

The bracket comprises a central portion 13 which extends atsubstantially right v eary/a1 angles to the axis of the engine and issupported by two extensions 14 and 15. The extension 14 projects at aslight angle to the plane of the central portion 13 and referably has apipe connection 16 formed integral with itsend. This pipe connection issimilar to that found on a Ford car as referred to above. A flange 17surrounds the pipe connection, which flange is fastened to flange 10 bybolts 18. The pipe connection 16 is thus substituted for the usual pipeconnection found on Ford cars. Of course, if found desirable, the usualpipe connection already on Ford cars may be utilized, in which case theend of extension 14 .will be flat and coupled between the flan e10 andthe flange on such pipe connection. Extension 14 is provided with anopening 19 to lighten the structure and with strengthening flanges 20,one along each edge of the bracket. The opening 19 also serves to permitthe passage of all from the ventilating fan 19 along the side of theengine. The extension 15 also projects at a slight angle to the plane ofthe central portion 13 and terminates in a foot 21 which extends atabout right angles to said extension. Foot 21 is provided with twobosses 22 which are spaced to correspond to the spacing of the bolts 7,and through which are suitable openings to receive fastening bolts. Bythis arrangement the bracket is fastened by bolts similar to those whichserve to fasten the crank casing 6 in place, except that they arelonger. No new bolt holes are thus required to be made. 23 is astiffening rib which extends from the foot 21 to the pipe connection 16.At the foot 21, it is substantially as wide as the foot is long butnarrows as it approaches the upper end of the bracket so as to comewithin the confines of the flange 17 A further stiffening rib 24 isprovided on this side of the bracket which extends from the foot 21 to apoint about half way up the rib 24, thus materially strengthening thelower portion of rib 24. The central portion 13 of the bracket isprovided with an opening 25 over which is fastened the front end of adynamo electric machine 26. The machine 26 is flattened on its two sidesas shown at 27 so that it may fit close up to the engine and otherwisecome within the confines of the space available for it. The front end ofthe machine 26 fits directly against the face of the bracket and itsshaft projects through opening 25 and carries a sprocket wheel 28 overwhich passes a chain 29 which transmits power between the dynamoelectric machine 26 and a sprocket wheel 30 on the engine crank shaft.The dynamo electric machine 26 is fixed to the bracket by twobolts 31and 32. The bracket has a curved slot 33 through which bolt 32 passes,

the center of curvature being bolt 31. By this means the dynamo electricmachine 26 may be turned on the bolt 31 as a pivot to adjust the tensionof the chain 29 after which it is fixed in adjusted position by means ofadjusting screw 33 after which it may be securely clamped in suchadjustlng position by tightening up bolt 32 and pivot bolt 31. A housingis provided for sprocket wheel 28 comprising a curved wall 34 whichsurrounds the opening 25 on three sides, having an open side throughwhich the chain 29 passes. The curved wall 34 1s formed as an integralpart of the bracket and serves to strengthen it. On the curved wall 34is fastened a cover plate 35 held in place by screws 36.

As is clear from Fig. 2, the flange 20 at the upper edge of extension 14merges into the curved wall 34 and that at the lower edge extends towall 34 where their edges are integrally united. In other words, flanges20 and wall 31 form one continuous integral structure. At 37 is astiffening rib located below the sprocket wheel 28 and extending in thesame general direction as does the chain 29. It extends from the edge ofopening 25 to a point part way down the extension 15, passing along theedge of an opening 38 which is formed in the bracket to lighten thestructure and also to permit of the passage of air from the ventilatingfan along the side of the engine.

It will be noted that the extension 15 and ribs 23 and 24 lie at rightangles to each other thus providing a strong rigid structure but onewhich at the same time is light in weight. Also that the flanges 20 onthe one side of extension 14 and the rib 23 on the other side thereoflikewise give a strong rigid and light structure for extension 14.

It will also be noted that the line of pull of the chain drive is in aplane substantially parallel to the plane of the bracket and bracketsupports and quite close thereto. Owing to this arrangement there arebut slight twisting or turning stresses on the bracket and its supports.This is important as it means that the greater portion of the drivingpull on the bracket is a straight line pull in the plane of the bracket.

The arrangement gives a very simple mounting for the machine 26 andprovides for the easy adjustment of it as well as its removal for repairor other purposes. The installation takes up'the minimum amount of spaceand as is obvious can be very readily installed without modification ofany of the vehicle parts.

In accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes, 1 havedescribed the principle of operation of my invention, together with theapparatus which I now consider to represent the best embodiment thereof;but I desire to have it understood that the apparatus shown is onlyillustrative and that the invention can be carried out by other means.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the UnitedStates, is

The combination with an internal coinbustion engine having a conduit forconveying cooling water, and a flange, of a bracket comprising a fiatcentral portion which lies in a plane at a right angle to the axis ofthe engine, and two extensions one of which is fastened to said conduitand the other of which has a foot fastened to said flange, said centralportion having an opening, a dynamo electric machine having a fiat endwhich engages directly a fiat surface of said central portion with itsshaft projectin through said opening, a pivot bolt located to one sideof the axis of said machine for pivotally connecting the machine to thebracket whereby the machine may be adjusted by turnin it on said bolt,means for holding the mac ine in any adjusted position, and atransmission wheel on said shaft which is located on the side of thebracket opposite to that on which the dynamo electric machine islocated.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 1st day of October,1917.

GEORGE E. STEVENS.

